Washing-machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. 0. THOMAS.

WASHING MACHINE.

Patented May 28, 1889.

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J. O. THOMAS.

. WASHING MACHINE.

Y No. 404,061. Patented May 28, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. THOMAS, OF JAMENNHX N, NE\\' YORK.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 404,061, dated May 28, 1889.

Application filed October 31,1888. Serial No. 289,627. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JOHN C. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at J amestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in \Vashing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in washing-machines; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washing-machine provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a ver tical section showing the bench raised. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the agitator, and Fig. l is a detail perspective view showing the manner of fastening the lid in place on the tub. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail View showing the sectional casting on the end of the agitator-shaft.

Referring to the drawings by letter, Adesignates the tub, of the usual circular constructionand provided at equidistant points with the sockets H,which receive the upper tapered ends of the supporting-legs C, as shown. The sockets are flared downward, and the angular tapered ends of the supporting-legs fit snugly in the sockets, so that the said legs will be prevented from twisting or wabbling when the machine is in use. Upon the outer side of one of the supporting-legs, near the upper end of the same, is secured the metallic loop D, through which the inner or lower round of the basket-supporting bench is passed, so that the bench is pivotally secured to the said leg. The said bench E consists of the rounds F and the side bars, G, secured to the ends of the said rounds. The inner ends of the side bars are provided in their upper edges with notches H, which engage the chine of the tub, so as to support the bench in its lower position to receive the clothes-basket, as will be readily understood on reference to the drawings.

Idesignates a spring-catch which is secured to the side of the tub, near the upper edge of the same, and is adapted to engage one of the upper rounds of the bench, so as to hold it in its raised position, as clearly shown in Fi 2.

J designates the lid supporting ring, which is secured to the upper edge of the tub and projects inward a slight distance, as shown.

The said ring is provided at diametrically-opposite points in its upper side with the recesses K, and to the said upper side of the said ring I secure the metallic ring or circular plate L, which is provided at diametrically-opposite points with the notches M, arranged over the recesses K in the lid-supporting ring. The said notches are somewhat smaller than the recesses K, so that one side of each notch projects inward over the side of the corresponding recess, thereby forming lips which are adapted to engage suitable projections on the lid and secure the same in place, as will be presently described. At its outer edge the ring L is provided with an annular vertical flange, N, which prevents Wat-er splashing over the side of the tub when the clothes are being passed from the tub through the wringer, and the said ring is further provided with the ears or brackets O O, to which the wringer is clamped when it is desired to remove the clothes from the tub.

P designates the lid, which is provided on its under side with the annular shoulder Q, which engages the inner edge of the lid-supporting ring, so as to secure the proper adjustment of the lid. The lid is further provided on its under side at diametrically-opposite points with the plates R, the ends of which project beyond the edge of the lid and are adapted to engage the notches M and recesses K. To the upper side of the lid, at the center or near the center thereof, I secure the standards S T, in and between which the driving-shaft U is journaled. The said driving shaft is provided with a drivingwheel, V, to which the operating-lever W is secured.

X designates the agitator shaft or post, which extends through a central opening in the lid and has its upper end journaled in a projection of the standard S, as shown. A gear-wheel, Y, is secured upon this post or shaft and meshes with the driving-wheel, as clearly shown. The lower end of the agitator-shaft is reduced, as shown, and to the opposite sides of this reduced portion Z,I secure the castings a, which are provided at their lower ends with the projections or lips I), as shown. The said castings, when secured to the lower reduced portion of the agitatorshaft, form. a rectangular sleeve or bearing,

upon which the agitator c is loosely mounted.

The said agitator consists of the rubbing-disk.

d and the casting e, secured to the upper side of the said disk, and having its upper portion provided with a rectangular opening, f, through which the castings a are inserted before being applied to the end of the agitatorshaft. The said opening in the upper end of the casting e is somewhat larger than the cross-section of the rectangular sleeve formed by the said castings a, so that the rubbingdisk is free to move vertically thereon, the downward movement being limited by the under surface of the casting e contacting with the lips I) on the lower endof the said rectangular bearing. A spring, g, is coiled around this rectangular sleeve or hearing, and has its ends resting against the casting e and an annular shoulder or enlargement, h, on the agitator-shaft, the said spring serving to hold the rubbing-disk normally lowered, so that it will bear upon the clothes in the tub.

The construction and arrangement of the parts of my machine being thus made known, the operation and advantages of the same will be readily understood. The clothes to be washed are placed in the tub, together with water and soap or other cleansing material, the lid is then secured in position, thereby bringing the agitator into place so as to bear on the clothes, after which the operating-lever is vibrated, consequently rotating the agitator and rubbing and agitating the clothes so as to clean the same. After the clothes have been cleansed the basket-supporting bench is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1, the lid removed, a wringer secured in proper position upon the tub, and the clothes then passed through the wringer into the basket supported upon the bench.

The lid is secured in place by causing the projecting ends of the plates R to engage the notches M and pass through the same into the recesses K, after which the lid is given a partial turn, so as to cause the ends of the said plates R to pass under the lips of the metallic ring L, formed by the saidnotches M. It will thus be seen that the lid is firmly held in place, and at the same time can be quickly removed or applied to the tub, as may be desired. I

The basket-supporting bench,it will be observed, requires no additional supportinglegs, but is held firmly in place by reason of the notches in. its side bars engaging the chine of the tub, so that the said side bars are prevented from swinging downward at their outer ends by reason of the weight of the clothes which they are calledon to support. In order to more thoroughly brace the said bench, the said notches are provided with curved walls, so as to correspond with the convex outer surface of the tub. When the bench is not in use, it is securely held in a raised position by the spring-catch on the side of the tub.

The agitator automatically accommodates itself toinequalities in the mass of clothing, as the casting secured to the upper side of the rubbing-disk is provided with an opening somewhat larger than the cross sectional area of the bearing upon which it is mounted, so that the said disk is free to vibrate horizontally, and thereby accommodate itself to inequalities in the mass of clothing: the lips at thelower end of said bearing preventing the casting falling therefrom, as shown.

The device is' very simple, and its advantages are thought to be obvious.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination of the tub, the supporting-legs therefor, the loop D, secured on one of said logs, the bench having one of its rounds inserted loosely through said loop and the ends of its side bars projecting under the tub, and the spring-catch secured to the side of the tub and adapted to engage one of the rounds of the bench, as set forth.

2. The combination of the tub, the internal lid-supporting ring secured to the upper edge of the tub and having shallow recesses K in its upper side at diametrically opposite points, the ring L, secured on the upper side of the lid-supporting ring and provided in its inner edge with the notches M, registering with the recesses K, but smaller than said recesses, so that a portion of the said ring projects over the recess, and the lid provided at diametrically-opposite points with the plates R, projecting beyond its edge and adapted to pass through the notches M into the recesses K and engage under the projecting portions of the ring L, as specified. 1

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. THOMAS. \Vitnesses:

M. M. SKIFF, JAMES L. WEEKs. 

